2-19-15 Lenten Devotional on Service and Witness

Thought: For the season of Lent we will be looking at the idea of service and witness.  These are two key practical concepts for the Christian church.  They are also, in some ways at the heart of the Gospel teaching.  Jesus came to serve (Mark 10:45) and to give his life in service- as a ransom for many.  He also from the beginning sent his disciples out to the towns and villages to spread the good news.  He accepted the praise of children and waving of palm branches by the crowds to spread the good news of his coming to Jerusalem.  One of his last words were to send the disciples out by the power of the Spirit commanding them (and us) to go into all the world to spread good news.
Part of our repentance of every day life is our renewal as well.  Calvin said we get close to God by dying to self (mortification) and living for God (vivification).  Service in humility emphasizes the dying to self.  While witness emphasizes living as a testimony to God's love.  We need this today.  Many simply are Christians in and for their own comfort.  This has been a killer for the church.

Scripture: "For  even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:45).

Thoughts: This saying of Jesus came in response to James and John who wanted a place of greatness in Christ's kingdom.  Jesus' response was that if you want to be great you must become a slave as he did.  If Jesus came to serve, and He is our Lord... then we must learn to serve.  If Jesus washed feet out of love and service, then we must not think any job is too low to do for God's glory.  Pride keeps us from humility and repentance.  But when we embrace humility and service as our goals, it makes our lives meaningful when we serve for God's glory.  It turns cleaning up the dishes into an offering to God.  It turns picking up the clothes into a blessing and a work for the kingdom.  Life- even the menial things gain a purpose.
     Ironically, the giving of one's life for others stands in sharp contrast to the taking of life.  One ideal (proposed by ISIS) implies that the taking of life brings the apocalypse and God's favor.  But the way of Jesus clearly states that the giving of our own life is a better way.  While one way crucifies others, the way of Jesus accepts crucifixion but turns it into resurrection.  The way of secularization says that life is about getting everything for yourself.  The way of terrorism is that life is about helping your own and terrorizing others into submission.  But the way of Jesus- is the way of giving of oneself not in a wasted martyrdom of death and destruction of others- but in a holy martyrdom of turning the other cheek.

Prayer: Lord, turn me away from pride or destruction.  Instead help me to give of myself for others as you gave yourself for me.